See How Kenyans Are Battling Cervical Cancer

See How Kenyans Are Battling Cervical Cancer

The John Hopkins Program for International Education in Gynecology and Obstetrics (jhpiego) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, has donated medical equipment to Kenya hospital to battle Cervical Cancer disease.

Onyxnewsng gathered, the equipment donated was received by the Kenyan Medical and Training College (KMTC), which includes three Cryotherapy and 10 Thermoablation devices for treating precancerous cervical lesions, which destroys the abnormal cells that could develop into cancer if not treated.

Speaking during the handover of the equipment to KMTC on Tuesday at the institution’s grounds, the Kenya Minister of Health, Director General Dr. Patrick Amoth, said that the machines are huge boost to the country’s war against cervical cancer.

Dr. Amoth noted that the devices would go a long way in equipping the training laboratories at the campus to enhance the students’ skills in treating cervical precancerous lesions.

“Cervical cancer is preventable and treatable if diagnosed early, yet it remains one of the most common cancers in Kenya, killing many women. A lack of training and skills for cancer among primary healthcare workers is a major setback in cervical and breast cancer control in Kenya.”

Earlier in the meeting, the Head of the Division of National Cancer Control Programme, Dr. Mary Nyangasi, said that the country has embraced the World Health Organization (Who) call to eliminate cervical cancer and is working towards vaccinating 90 per cent of girls between 10 and 14 years, screening 70 per cent of all eligible women and 90 per cent of those found to have cervical cancer treated by 2030.

“There is no reason why we cannot eliminate cancer, and we have all the tools we need to tackle the disease.”

She disclosed that the Kenyan government is also advocating for the administering of Human Papillomavirus vaccine through the National Vaccine and Immunization programme since 2019 to girls aged between nine and 13 years to protect women from cervical cancer, adding that yo date, the ministry has administered a total of 61 percent of the first dosage.

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The KMTC Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Kelly Oluoch, also noted that the early diagnosis and effective treatment is a methodology that can be used to reduce the death of women who suffer from cervical cancer which also depends on health workers knowledge.

Meanwhile, according to the World Health Organization data, cervical cancer led to the death of 3,211 women above 30 years in 2020. It also states that women with compromised immune systems, and in particular those who are HIV positive are six times more vulnerable to developing the invasive cancer.

John Hopkins Program for International Education in Gynecology and Obstetrics country Director, Dr. Stephen Mutwiwa said that prevention efforts and effective treatment work hand in hand to reduce the rate of cervical cancer, or any other disease for that matter.